A/N: Only one more chapter and maybe an epilogue. I haven't decided. I have to thank some amazing people for their reviews. You really humbled me with your response to the last chapter. So a HUGE thanks to: dreamerdoll (is 2 lazy 2 log in), memories of pain, devinnetjuh, Kiriava twilight, kaiba-queen, shirleybobo, Aeris Malfoy-Potter, animegurl088, dissadistfaction, JacobimvonStyluss, slayer faith2, and lastbreathsword. You were all very sweet and I couldn't have smiled more after all the reviews. Now, on with the story! Read, review and enjoy. Much love.
The next morning, sunlight shone in on the boys and slowly woke Harry up. He stared at Draco and pondered over the surprises of the night before. They were soul mates. He felt like he should have been more shocked, but he wasn't. Everything that had happened had pointed to that. They had fallen in love so quickly and Harry's promise ring had taken on the significance of an engagement ring more than anything else. Everything had happened so fast, but neither of them had been afraid. It had felt right, like they'd loved each other forever. Being soul mates didn't change anything; it just added a title to their relationship. Harry smiled as he realized this and turned over to watch Draco wake up.
"Good morning, love. Sleep well?"
"Morning, Dray. Of course I slept well, you were here."
"Harry, I was thinking last night, after you feel asleep, and I think we should bond."
"What?"
"Well, we're soul mates and if we bond, we'll gain certain abilities as well as be able to combine our magic so that we're stronger."
"But Dray, if I die, you will lose all but a fraction of your magic. Once combined, the magic can't be separated. The harsh reality is that you would probably die too."
"I know, but the combined force of our magic could make the difference."
"But it might not. Do you really want to risk losing your abilities or dying on that chance?"
"Why do we always have to argue about these things, Harry? You and I both know that we're going to do it. You know that my bringing it up means that I want to do it and will do it and I know that since you didn't say no, we're going to do it. Can we just skip the whole debate? It really ruins the moment."
"And that didn't?"
"You have a point, however, that will not deter me. Are we going to agree to bond or not?"
Harry stared at the ceiling for a long moment. He looked at Draco, carefully, scrutinizing him.
"You know there was never a moment. There is no moment when the statement is something like, "For practical reasons, I think we should bond." That includes absolutely no romantic, moment earning qualities. It should be done more like this."
Harry got up off the bed and pulled Draco to a sitting position on its edge. He bent down on one knee.
"My dragon, I woke up this morning and thought about discovering that you were my soul mate. I wondered why I was not more surprised when I heard, but I realized that it was because my heart had already told me. The past few months have been incredible. I have experienced more happiness that I had ever imagined existed. I have given and received more love than I ever believed I could. I never want to lose that. Please say that you will bond with me so that I never have to live without the happiness and love I now know exist."
"I will bond with you, Harry, if you promise me to do the same and to keep that promise in your heart, never giving up on us."
"I promise."
A sliver light engulfed the boys as they came together for a kiss.
"Harry, I want you to make love to me."
"I want to, Draco, more than anything, but we can't. We have to wait for the ceremony. It will strengthen the bond."
"When will the ceremony be?"
"It can be whenever you want. Dumbledore can perform it without Ministry approval as long as we each have three witnesses."
"Can we have it tonight?"
"If you want to, love."
"I want to."
"Then, I'd better get up and talk to Dumbledore as well as find some witnesses."
"I suppose that I had better do the same."
"Yes."
"Come on, we still have lessons to go to first."
The boys dressed quickly and left their rooms. Draco stopped Harry just outside the door with a kiss.
"Thank you for that moment, Harry."
"You deserved it, Draco. I love you."
"I love you too, Harry."
Harry asked himself two questions as he exited Dumbledore's offices: how did he already know about Draco's and my decision and who will be my witnesses. Walking forward, he bumped into someone.
"Harry?"
"George? How are you?"
"I'm wonderful, but if anyone asks you I was never here."
Harry chuckled.
"If I ever have to take truth serum, I hope you mum doesn't get to ask me anything."
"As do I, Harry, as do I."
"That reminds me, how is she?"
"She's here actually. She wanted to visit Ron and Ginny. Anyway, I've got to be off before…well never mind what before."
"George, do me a favor. Come to the Great Hall tonight at night and bring Fred."
"Don't suppose you're going to tell me why."
"Of course I'm not, I learned from the best."
George puffed out his chest a bit.
"You did too. Don't suppose you want to take a few refresher courses," he added with a suggestive wink and a grin.
"Sorry, but no. Better go before whatever occurs and don't forget about tonight."
"I won't." And with that, George disappeared down the hall.
Harry grinned as he watched the man go and then hurried off to find Mrs. Weasley.
"Hello, dear!"
"Hi, Mrs. Weasley."
"Harry, dear, how many times must I tell you to call me mum or Molly? Don't you believe me when I tell you that you're a part of the family?"
"I'm sorry…mum. I wanted to ask you a favor. Will you act as a witness to my bonding with Draco?"
"Oh, Harry, of course I will." Tears sprung into Molly's eyes and she pulled Harry into a fierce hug.
"Mum, let go. Harry, mate, guess what? Draco asked me to be his witness."
"He what?"
"He said that he wanted me to witness as a sign that we were friends and to let you know that your friends are his friends as well."
Harry smiled.
"I should have known he'd do something like that. As lovely as it is though, he's stealing my friends and witnesses. This is not good. Hermione, will you witness for me?"
"Harry, I'd be honored, but I think you need to look for someone else. I know that you love me, choose something that needs someone to care about them."
Harry gave Mrs. Weasley another hug.
"Tonight at nine in the Great Hall, please try and get Dad to come as well as Ginny, Neville, Seamus and Dean. I already talked to Fred and George."
"Professor Snape?"
"Yes, Potter?"
"You can relax, no one is around and I've put up a silencing spell."
It had taken them a while, but Severus and Harry and grown to be friends. It had begun because of Draco who insisted that Severus was the only reason that they'd gotten together. He'd given them the potion so obviously he should be thanked. As Harry grew closer to the blonde, he'd been forced to grow closer to Severus. After all the special training and the close work they had done together with Harry's mark, they had no trouble getting along and Harry had grown very fond on the man.
"Come in, Harry."
"Severus, will you witness my bonding ceremony with Draco?"
"I can't, I'm already acting as a witness for Draco."
"I don't believe this. Draco has stolen two of the people I wanted to witness for me."
"Obviously, you are not choosing wisely."
"I wanted you to be there. You saw past the scar this whole time, even before we got along. I wanted you to witness for me."
"Well, perhaps you should look for those who never saw the scar to begin with. I can assure you it took me a long time to see past the family resemblance and that is just as bad as seeing the scar."
"He took Ron too."
"Surely you have more friends than myself and Weasley."
"Yes, but…"
"Go, Harry. You'll find your witnesses."
Harry grumbled as he walked out of the room. And then a thought hit him, a thought so obvious that he almost smacked himself for his stupidity.
Remus,
Tonight, I will be bonding with Draco. Please come and act as my witness. If I have no response by eight, I will be forced to find another witness as the ceremony begins at nine in the Great Hall. I'm sorry, I have not explained the seriousness of my relationship with Draco to you, but if you come we will have a long talk.
Harry
Two down and one to go.
It was seven when Harry and Draco finally met in the dorm.
"Hello, Draco, I would like to thank you for taking two of my witnesses."
"No problem, Harry. I was happy to do it."
"So who did you end up with?"
"Snape, Ron and Hermione."
"Hermione wouldn't witness for me!"
"Same here, she said something about someone who needed to know I cared. I spent hours racking my brain, trying to figure it out. I gave up and told her she was the only person I could think of and so she agreed. She also said that you had figured it out so it didn't matter. Who was it?"
"My witnesses are Mum, that's Mrs. Weasley, Remus and Blaise."
"Blaise?"
"He wants out of the Dark, Dray. We can help him."
"Thank you, Harry."
"Don't thank me. Hermione was right, now let's go get dinner."
As Harry finished his meal, a familiar man walked in.
"Remus!"
"Harry!"
The two hugged.
"Harry, it's wonderful to see you. Of course, I accept, but I would like to talk first."
"Do you mind if Draco comes?"
"He'd better come. He's just as involved as you are."
Leading them to his rooms, Remus conjured some tea and sat down.
"Explain."
Harry and Draco told their story from the beginning. And then Harry added something.
"Remus, I'm sorry that I pushed you away this year. I could only thing of Sirius when I saw you. I knew about the too of you and I was afraid that you would blame me. I know you don't and I wanted to ask you to be my unofficial godfather."
Remus blinked rapidly, trying to hid his tears.
"Harry, I'm so proud of you. I would love to be your godfather. Don't worry about the past, I would never blame you."
The two men embraced.
"Now, Draco, I don't know you very well, but I trust Harry. I am sure that for him to love you, you can be nothing like your father. I hope that you and I can learn to be friends as well."
"I would like that, Remus.
"Enough talking, you'd better get ready. You're due in the Hall in half an hour."
Harry hugged him tightly and whispered his thanks in the man's ear.
Remus moved to shake Draco's hand, but Draco caught him in a hug.
"Thank you, Remus. You don't know how much this means to Harry and to me."
Remus smiled, slightly overcome.
"I'll see you shortly."
Harry waited nervously in front of a crowd of people he loved and respected. Standing at his side, Remus, Molly and Blaise waited as well. On the other side, Ron, Hermione and Severus stood. All of the witnesses wore black robes trimmed in silver. Harry wore an emerald robe with black trim around the cuffs and hem. Draco entered the hall and walked up to Harry, wearing the same robes. He stopped and knelt and the brunette's feet.
"Harry James Potter, I am here to become your husband, your bonded, your always."
"Draco Lucien Malfoy, you must rise. I am here to be your equal, your husband, your bonded and your always." Harry extended a hand.
Dumbledore began to speak once Draco stood next to Harry.
"Tonight, I bond these two men together. Once this is complete, they will be one in the eyes of our world. They will spend their lives together. If anyone believes that these two should not be joined, you must speak now."
The Hall was quiet. A pearly light rose around the boys as Dumbledore handed a small knife to Draco. He took it and made a short cut on both of his palms. Harry accepted the knife from Draco and did the same.
"Please join hands."
Draco and Harry raised their hands to meet between them at eye level. They pressed them together and linked fingers. The light began to shimmer.
"Harry, I promise to give you myself as your soul mate, forever. When you are lost, I will be there. I will be your home. I will offer you everything because that is what you have given me. Our lives will become one, with me living for you."
"Dray, I promise that you will never be alone. I will there to comfort and love you, no matter what. I offer myself as your soul mate for eternity and beyond. You will never want for I will give you everything. Our lives will become one with me living for you."
The light became a shimmering gold as two identical gold bands appeared on each boy's left ring finger. The couple lowered their hands and met for a kiss. The light flared and disappeared, leaving the couple radiating a soft glow.
"Please welcome the newly bonded Harry and Draco Potter."
Harry turned to face the small group of friends that included their witnesses who had joined the audience. There were few without tears in their eyes. They clapped for the coupe in front of them who made the long procession out of the room, hands joined. The guests and Dumbledore followed. In the hall, the ceremony ended with a few congratulations for the bonded and a short toast. There was little celebration as they hugged everyone goodbye and left for the dorms.
"Gentlemen, I have a present for you."
"Headmaster, that is unnecessary."
"It is appropriate. You have been moved into a room in the Gryffindor Tower where you can live as a bonded couple should. You no longer belong amongst your peers. You and the rest of the order have outgrown your childhood."
"Thank you, Headmaster."
"You will see a painting of a man standing in front of a sunset. He will appear to be a shadow. The password is, "Untouchable gold." Congratulations to you both."
Walking into their new rooms, Harry and Draco found that they were replicas of their dream reality. Instead of two bedrooms, there was one that looked exactly like Harry's. Harry smiled into Draco's eyes as they saw their rooms and leaned in to place a tender kiss on Draco's lips. They tasted every centimeter of each other's mouths, leaving no crevice untouched. Pulling apart, Harry slowly took of his robes to reveal a plain white shirt and black trousers. He unbuttoned his shirt, but did not remove it. Kissing Draco, he began to tease him delicately, arms wrapped around the person he held most dear. Draco slipped his hands around Harry's torso and across the hot skin he encountered. He felt Harry's muscles rippled and he deepened the kiss. Pushing Harry back onto the bed, Draco moved to press soft kisses along Harry's jaw, nibbling and sucking the whole way. Harry reached up to pushed Draco's robes off and unbutton his shirt. Soon, both shirts were on the floor. Exploring each other, they took their time, Harry drawing invisible grape vines all over Draco's back as the blonde began to bite his chest, leaving behind small red marks. He groaned as Draco brushed a tongue across his nipple and then took each in his mouth, caressing with his tongue. Their mouths crashed together again, more passionately. The boys shed their remaining clothes and Harry crawled on top of Draco, gasping as their erections rubbed together for the first time. Hands roamed to caress every piece of skin they could reach and Harry began to leave a damp trail down Draco's chest as he kissed his way over the blonde's ribs and stomach. Coating a finger in lubricant, he began to stretch his partner. Allowing his partner to adjust, he added fingers until he hit home. Draco saw stars and Harry continued to stimulate him until Draco grasped his hand and looked into his lover's emerald eyes.
"I want you, Harry."
Harry was only to ready to oblige him.
"I love you, Dragon. Thank you so much for everything."
'I love you, Harry. Go to sleep now, we have a long day tomorrow."
And they did, for tomorrow was November 23rd. The day the war would be fought and decided.